“He has gone on the trip of his life with my son. Every photo we’ve had they’ve been smiling and having a great time. You shouldn’t have to bury your children.

Victim: Christian Sloan

“He was a great lad. He worked at Dover harbour but gave up his job to travel.”

Letting agent Alan went to the home in Deal, Kent, after being told by his son that there had been an accident. Alan said: “My boy was supposed to go on the trip to the waterfall but got diarrhoea, so he didn’t go.”

The dad added that James told him they had booked the trip through what they believed was an accredited tour firm. Alan said: “I don’t want it to make it sound like they had taken a risk and gone with an unofficial firm. I don’t think that’s the case.

“My son said there was a harness failure when they were on the waterfalls.

“They were both sensible lads. We told them they were in a foreign country and had to abide by their rules. We wanted them to see the world – you can’t wrap them in a bubble.”

Tourism bosses said an unauthorised private operator arranged the excursion to the Datanla waterfalls in Lam Dong province. Vo Anh Tan, deputy director of the Lam Dong joint stock tourist company, which manages the falls, said the guide did not use the firm’s safety equipment.

Mr Tan added the guide was quizzed by police. Emergency crews climbed down a steep slope to recover the bodies, which had life jackets on, it has been reported.

We wanted them to see the world: Alan Mc Glashan

The Foreign Office, which confirmed three British nationals had died, issued a statement on behalf of Christian’s family. It said: “Christian’s death is a very sad loss to us. He was a very popular young man, formerly in the Royal Navy, who had many, many friends not just locally but around the world. He lived for life.”